Groundbreaking Ceremony for Cambodia’s Phu Nam Techo Canal Project
This morning (August 5th), Cambodia hosted the groundbreaking ceremony for the Phu Nam Techo Canal project. Presided over by Prime Minister Hun Manet, the ceremony took place in Preak Takeo village, Kien Svay district, Kandal province. The canal is designed to start here, embarking on a 180 km journey through Kandal, Takeo, and Kampot provinces before reaching the sea in Kep province.
According to the Cambodian Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Phu Nam Techo Canal is projected to be completed in four years, with an estimated cost of $1.7 billion. Cambodian investors hold a 51% stake in the project, while the remaining 49% is owned by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). The canal, with a depth of 5.4 meters, will accommodate vessels of 1,000 DWT under Mekong River Commission (MRC) standards and 3,000 DWT vessels under Chinese standards. The canal’s base width is 80 meters, while the surface width is 100 meters, designed for two lanes of water traffic. There will be three lock stations in Kandal, Takeo, and Kep provinces to regulate water levels, flow, and prevent saltwater intrusion.
The Cambodian government estimates that the project will create more than 10,000 jobs and improve the lives of 1.6 million people living near the canal. In addition to serving as an important waterway connecting Cambodia’s river systems to the sea, the canal is expected to provide water for agriculture and aquaculture, establishing many economic zones. economic and logistics center, creating a number of satellite ports and promoting tourism development.
This canal project also contributes to improving the quality of life of people living near the canal area by creating a source of income from providing jobs. When the canal is completed, it will attract tourists to visit. destruction, and profit from fish and aquatic species farming.
